...and baby makes 14! (all under 7!!!)

Uh, ok.
As you all know, as a woman who cannot have kids I am ALL for fertility treatment and intervention. Some of the BEST people I know have needed assistance becoming parents and they certainly are entitled-they are the best parents I know.
But...
Wassup with that woman in CA who now has 14 kids under the age of 7??? And, she's bankrupt. And, she lives with her MOTHER in a 3 bedroom house. And, she's a single mother.
WTF?!
Again, I'm all for folks getting assistance in becoming pregnant AND having as many kids as they wish, so long as they can care for them. (Duggars on 17 and counting...they now have 18 kids!)
But I swear, if this woman goes on public assistance or goes all over TV to get donations and money I'm going to spit at the TV.
Jeez.

Snow snow go away, come again another day!

We hope you are all safe and sound, whether you're at work or home today.
I did drive to the Center this AM to pick up a few things and enter a few new customer accounts and the roads were, in a word, treacherous. (And I have a massive SUV and no fear in the 'driving in the winter' department.)
Check our website by 3pm for info on whether we're having afternoon/evening classes and potluck...right now, it's not looking good people.
Stay warm and safe and check in later!

Newbies!

What?!
That's what we call new customers...and we have a TON of them right now!
Our One Day Sale was a great deal and 20 people took advantage of it. Thanks to those who brought friends and WELCOME to all the newbies!

At this time of year, we always have an influx of new customers and we love their bright smiles and enthusiasm. But, how do we keep that enthusiasm going?
Well, we ( our instructors and Karen and myself) bring the WOW to everyone class...making you laugh, challenging your bodies and teaching you how to get the most from your workout time. We offer 30 classes a week to choose from and we have a lot of fun and informative things planned for you!
Nutrition seminars, technique classes, a Jazz to the Max special class to BLAST that FAT and our charity work continues with our 'Go RED for Women' basket raffle to benefit the Heart Association.
What can YOU (as the newbies) do?
Take it one day at a time. Remember, every time you get to class is a victory. Give yourself credit. Schedule your workouts on your calendar like you do every important item. YOU are important, so put yourself on the list too! Try and eat well 5 days out of 7. Just try. Don't overhaul your entire eating plan AND start a new fitness program...it's too much. Small changes are the most lasting.
And, for those veteran customers...what can YOU do?
When you see a newbie in class, say HI. Introduce yourself and let them know we ALL had to master that darn jazz square. Remember, every new customer means we can add more classes, more instructors and more things that benefit YOU. Never feel that a full class is 'bad'...a full class has TONS of great energy and means we'll be here for decades to come for everyone!
Once again to all the newbies...WELCOME! Don't forget that Karen and I were once new to our program and we struggled just like you. We didn't let it stop us-we stuck with it, got healthier and fit and now we own the Center and teach! Remember all you have to do is move, breathe and have fun!
See you in class.

A new President!

"We must pull ourselves up by our boot straps and go about the task of remaking America."
~President Barack Obama

Word.
Now let's get to it people.
Take personal responsibility.
It starts with you...and me.
Let's hold hands and leap into the future and make it what we want it to be.

MLK Jr. Day

"I have a dream..."

We all do.
I have been lucky (as I've said before), I've realized many of my dreams.

My dream for my Country?
Is for it to always get better. Sometimes it's 2 steps forward and 1 step back-or so it seems, but this is and will always be the GREATEST Country in the world. We can really do anything here, so long as we set our minds to it.

I've traveled a bit in my life and while I enjoy it very much, I always enjoy coming home.
I remember being in Europe in the early 80's and going to East Berlin when it was under Communist rule. It was scary and it was a really bleak place.
The rest of my trip was spent in (what was then) W. Germany, a free Country. It was great. So were Austria and Switzerland and, frankly, all the other Countries I've visited. But...
The moment I remember was coming home after 2 months in Europe and flying over the Statue of Liberty. I was SOOOO happy to see her. My Country, I was home. I was in a place where I was free, could say what I wanted and could be anything I wanted and where I was proud.

I think Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted every child to have the opportunity to live up to his/her potential. Every child. Every color, every race, everyone.

We're closer now but there's still work to be done. And remember, when we make opportunity possible for others, we increase opportunity for ourselves too.

Is it sappy to think if we hold tight to each other and work together we can accomplish anything? Nope. Just look at the 155 people who safely got off that US Airways plane. They worked as a team, had never met each other before and everyone benefitted. Everyone won.

So, here's to Dr. King and to our new President. It's going to be hard work but...
YES WE CAN.

Miracle on the Hudson

Hello All...

We hope you are able to stay warm and, don't forget, drip your faucets at home while you're at work. Why? Because it keeps everything flowing, just in case! (It was 4 degrees when I looked out this morning!)

And, remember, the cold weather does a number on the body, just like the extreme summer heat does. So make sure you're hydrating and getting your rest!

I'm sure we all saw shots of the plane that had to ditch in the Hudson River in NYC yesterday. Mr. P&P travels a ton for work and I always think of that and shiver when I see this stuff.

I personally watched with rapt attention (online on Fox) of the video showing how this incredible pilot and crew brought this large plane down, safely, in the Hudson and then made sure every, single passenger got off safely. Thank God for the tug boats and ferries in the area who picked up those freezing folks (imagine being in the WATER in the weather we're having...) and got them all safely back on land. There is one picture where it looks like they are all standing ON the water when, in fact, they are all standing on the plane's wing.

While I'm not overly religious (but I do consider myself relatively spiritual), I believe that this is a miracle and is meant to teach us all something.

Is this incident to teach us all to pay attention during the safety presentation of any flight? I think not (but you still should pay attention...I always count the rows forward and behind me to the exit-though we are usually seated IN the exit row thanks to freq. flyer miles).

Is this incident to teach us to stop and think and realize how short life can truly be and to remind us of what is truly important? I think, maybe so.

Why? Well, the world is kind of spinning out of control right now with the economy and all. Folks are drifting...looking for something concrete to hold onto. I think we all feel like we need some strong footing.
Enter "Sully" and his amazing pilot skills in saving 150 passengers and his entire crew.
Enter all the folks ON the plane who didn't try and run over each other to get out and actually banded together to get everyone out safely.
Enter the tugboat and ferry captains and crews who got those folks back to shore.
Enter the EMS (and FNY and NYPD) who treated the folks once they were back on shore.
This reminds us all that there are truly good people in this world and it also reminds us that we must make every day a happy one for ourselves.
Think about those folks on that plane-they were living their lives. Some were going golfing, some were returning home after a business trip, some were going to visit family. Today they could all be gone but they're not. They each have a second chance. Look at the video of how HAPPY those folks were after they were safe. They were joyous...
Don't wait for an 'almost tragedy' to give you your second chance at a better, more fulfilling life.
Just start today, be happy.
Eat a bit healthier, move a bit more (come to class and dance with us), call a friend, find a job you love and do it, hug your kids (or dogs, cats, birds, etc.), tell the people you love how much you love them. Smile at a stranger, hold the door open for someone, let someone out in traffic...
Don't wait until you're 'bracing for impact' and seeing your life flash before your eyes and wish you'd done so much differently.
So, here's mine:
I felt, for a long time in my life, that I was UNlucky. There have been years, decades, where I thought God forgot about me. But, in the last 15 years I've realized that I am LUCKIER than most.
I have a job I love and a business partner/sister/friend to do it with.
I have 2 incredible kids in my life and, while they're not my children, I love them like they were and they love me.
I have a great husband who really is a saint and a 'kid' I love (Lilly) and I 'kid' we lost (Ally)whom I miss and love every day.
Yeah, my family's disfunctional but whose isn't?
I have a great home, a nice car and friends who are like family to me.
I have a bunch of crazy men and women who come and dance with me in class who light my life and make me laugh. (uh, that's all of you)
See? Lucky.
You're lucky too-just think about it. We all focus (me included) way too much on what we don't have in our lives.
So, after yesterday, let's all focus on what we DO have and try and live more gratefully.

A little New Year diddy...

Just for fun and food for thought!

After Christmas 'Twas the week after Christmas, and all through the house
Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse.
The cookies I'd nibbled, the eggnog I'd taste,
All the holiday parties had gone to my waist.
When I got on the scales there arose such a number!
When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber).
I'd remember the marvelous meals I'd prepared;
The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared, The wine and the rum balls, the bread and the cheese,
And the way I'd never said, "No thank you, please."
As I dressed myself in my husband's old shirt, And prepared once again to do battle with dirt.
I said to myself, as I only can, "You can't spend a winter disguised as a man!"
So away with the last of the sour cream dip,
Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip.
Every last bit of food that I like must be banished,
"Till all the additional ounces have vanished.
I won't have a cookie - not even a lick.
I'll want only to chew on a long celery stick.
I won't have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I'll munch on a carrot and quietly cry.
I'm hungry, I'm lonesome, and life is a bore But isn't that what January is for?
Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!
NO DIETS-COME TO CLASS AND DANCE WITH US!

O's Best Life week and more...

Everyone,
Ok. I tivo'd the Big O's shows for this week (I tivo them every day, when they're new) and I finally watched her Monday show last night. I was impressed (and if you know me, you know I am not easily impressed ever). She was honest, real (she's always real but this time, it was different) and really got to the heart of what most women (sorry guys) do and/or don't do. That would be:
We do not take care of ourselves but empty our 'well' taking care of everyone else.
This is what our program has always addressed and I was mucho thrilled to see the Big O talking about it.
We all struggle with maintaining our health, vitality and wellness.
We all struggle with food choices.
We all struggle to stay motivated to exercise and move our bodies more.
We all struggle to love ourselves, just as we are now.
Even the Big O.
And, as she said herself "No amount of square footage of your home, possessions or money can replace your health."
So, right now many folks are flocking to fitness programs like ours. By March, many will drop out. Why? Because we all struggle. "Life" takes over (as O said as well). But, DO NOT LET YOURSELF BE ONE OF THOSE FOLKS WHO PUTS YOURSELF ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR OWN LIST.
If you do, your health and wellness will suffer.
So, what do we do?
Well, in her Tuesday show the fabulous Dr. Oz was on (love him!) and he gave a healthy you checklist. I'm going to hit the highlights here but please visit the big O's website for details.
-Schedule a physical (How many times do I mention this in class? Especially yesterday since mine was yesterday! Sidebar-my arm does NOT hurt from the tetanus shot, BTW)
-Make sure you get your cholesterol tested, your blood pressure (I always preach 'know your numbers'), your thyroid (you may know O had a thyroid issue last year) and get a C reactive protein test. I've done them all. The last one I did because my Dad died very early in life of heart disease. C reactive protein measures inflammation in the body and can show whether or not you may have the genes to get heart disease. GET THIS TEST DONE. It can also show a propensity for strokes, etc. And, if your doc says your insurance won't pay-DO IT ANYWAY. They told me mine wouldn't pay and they did.
-Women, add in your pap smear and ask your doc if they are including the digene HPV test in that pap. If they're not, ask them to do it. It's no different than your regular pap, but screens for that virus that causes cervical cancer. My doc is doing this for me for the first time this year.
And, of course, your mammo's. I get the digital one at the end of Feb. and I'll let you know how it goes. (I have always gotten the traditional SMOOSH mammo...)
-Measure your waist (or ask us to do it). It should be 1/2 your height in inches. Larger and just work on it (all the core work we do in class will help). The fat stored in your abdomen is the most dangerous and contributes to heart disease/stroke. (the #1 killer of women)
-Take a multivitamin which includes Vitamin D. Vitamin D fights colon cancer (according to Dr. Oz) and other bad diseases and those of us in climates like ours (no sun) have low levels.
-Exercise (aka come to class). And, you should be doing resistance exercise (duh!). We do both cardio and strength and have always told you that you need both and Dr. Oz agrees. Thanks Doc!
Again, check the O website for all the checklist items.
And, ladies, take some time for YOU. Look, we know it's hard but you must do it. You'll be a better wife, Mommy, sister, friend, daughter...if you do. Love you-that's where it all starts!
See you in class.

Infomercials, quick fixes and New Year's resolutions...

Happy 2009!
This time of year, we are being bombarded on TV by hundreds of informercials for products that will supposedly:
1. Increase your bust with no surgery (it's like a thighmaster for your chest)
2. In one small shot of 'natural' ingredients make you lose fat and rev your metabolism
3. Keep you warm while you're at home watching all the informercials and leave room for your arms too
4. A small ball that, placed in the small of your back (ouch!) can create a six pack of abs in less than 10 minutes a day
5. Make you thin by pre-preparing your meals and shipping them to you
6. Replace 2 meals a day with cereal and be thin forever!
And on and on...
Do not be fooled by these things.
If there was a quick fix we certainly wouldn't own a Fitness Center and work as hard as we do...we'd simply sell the pill or quick fix diet.
Diets don't work. As 'Garfield the cat' once said, "Diet is die with a t".
Small changes do work and they add up.
-Cut out the soda and replace it with water. Even diet soda trains the body to 'want' sugar even though diet soda has no real sugar.
-Try and get protein every meal.
-Make sure the bread/pasta you eat is whole wheat. It's a bit hard to get used to but once you do, you'll love it. And you'll get more fiber in your diet to boot!
-Try to add another fruit or vegetable into your diet you've not tried before.
-Eat REAL food. Don't drink fruit juice to get fruit into your diet, eat the real fruit.
-Shop the grocery store aisles at both ends of the store and leave the middle aisles. Those are the ones with all the processed foods.
-Learn to read labels. Taking a moment to see how many ingredients are in a food item will help you. Less ingredients=more REAL food!
Making these small changes will help you change your LIFE, not just go on a diet.
And, of course, regular and consistent exercise is crucial too!
So...
See you in class!